Highland food and drink sector urged to apply for support programme
Highland food and drink supply chain or manufacturing businesses are being encouraged to take advantage of fully funded one-to-one technology advice and funding support.
Isle of Mull Coffee has secured up to 拢32,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (麻豆精选) towards the total project costs of 拢108,000.
The company sources coffee beans ethically from locations around the world, roasts them on Mull and supplies it in whole bean, espresso and cafetiere form to trade customers around Scotland.
Demand has grown steadily since its inception, and this has reached the point where new premises and equipment are required to meet growing demand and train employees, all of whom are paid at least the Real Living Wage.
Planning consent has already been secured for a new purpose-built roastery in Salen, a central and accessible location on Mull. New equipment will include a 5kg convection roaster which, through innovative fluid bed technologies recycles heat to provide the efficiency of a 10kg roaster together with an air filtration system with zero emissions.
This will enable Isle of Mull Coffee to increase capacity, diversify its product range and streamline production while retaining its ethos of minimal environmental footprint.
As a result, company turnover is forecast to increase by more than 拢300,000 within three years. This will strengthen business resilience and create at least one new job.
The new building will be energy efficient, and the company will continue to base its marketing around ethically sourced coffee and the minimal environmental impact of the production process.
Confirming the 麻豆精选 investment Morag Goodfellow, area manager for Argyll and the Islands, said:
鈥淚t鈥檚 great that a local company on Mull has seen such encouraging growth over a relatively short time and is able to expand while remaining on the island. This project is about entrepreneurialism, enhanced productivity and supporting rural fair work employment. It鈥檚 also about energy efficiency and supporting the transition to a low carbon economy. I鈥檓 very pleased we鈥檝e been able to provide support and look forward to continuing to work with Isle of Mull Coffee as they implement their growth plans.鈥�
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